Obtaining a Visa

Incoming Brazil Scientific Mobility Program grantees will carry out their biometric appointment at a CASV and J-1 visa interview during a pre-scheduled visa week. Students will receive specific information regarding dates, time and location of the visa week. Biometric appointments and J-1 visa interviews will be held in Brasilia, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. Students should expect the following:

to receive the original Form DS-2019

to meet representatives from CAPES, IIE, the U.S. Department of State, EducationUSA, and other stakeholders

to participate in visa interviews

to participate in a pre-departure orientation webinar

What to Expect

All BSMP students must submit a completed application to IIE in order to be placed at a host institution. Students will be notified of their admission to a U.S. host institution in their Terms of Appointment (ToA), which they will be able to retrieve from their BSMP student portal account.

Once students receive theToAs from the portal, all pages must be printed, signed, scanned and uploaded to the student portal account. Please be aware that issuance of ToAs is contingent upon university admissions decisions, and, therefore, will be sent to individual students at different times.

After IIE has received students' signed ToAs, students will receive a copy of their Form DS-2019 from IIE via email with step-by-step instructions for the J-1 visa application process.

Students will attend a biometric appointment and visa interview during Visa Week OR an independently scheduled biometric appointment and visa interview, if instructed to do so by IIE.

Students will also attend a pre-departure webinar which will help highlight some of the arrival processes, program details and cross cultural adjustments.

After the visa interview, students will receive the J-1 visa. The wait time to receive a J-1 visa after a visa interview can vary, depending on the consulate. IIE cannot provide exact expected wait times.

Don’t worry if other BSMP students receive TOAs or Forms DS-2019 before you!

After attending the biometric appointment at the respective CASV receiving the ORIGINAL Form DS-2019, BSMP students must attend the J-1 visa interview at the respective U.S. Embassy/Consulate. The ORIGINAL Form DS-2019 is required for the J-1 visa interview.

BSMP Students Must Also Bring:

ORIGINAL current passport

DS-160 confirmation page

SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment Receipt

Any previous U.S. visas in current or expired passport or a copy

In addition to the above, it is strongly recommended to bring the following:

BSMP Students should be prepared to answer the following questions for the J-1 visa interview:

What is IIE and why did IIE issue you a Form DS-2019?

Why do you want to go to the U.S. to study?

What do you know about your host institution? (location, size, field of study expertise, etc.)

Why are you applying for a nonimmigrant J-1 student visa in the non-degree category?

How will this experience better prepare you for your career/life in Brazil?

What are your intentions to return to Brazil upon completion of your authorized program?

BSMP students should take note of the following:

Under no circumstances should BSMP students apply for a B-1/B-2 (visitor for business or pleasure) visa, an immigrant visa, or any other type of visa. Students that have such a visa in their passport may not use them for entry to the United States under this program.

Students that are unable to arrive by the Start Date on their Terms of Appointment, or are experiencing delays in their arrival due to exceptional circumstances, should notify IIE and their host institution immediately.

Dates and other information on the ORIGINAL Form DS-2019 cannot be erased, whited-out or changed in any way. If there is an error, please let IIE know as soon as possible, so it can be determined whether the Form needs to be reissued.

On the bottom of Page 1 of the Form DS-2019, there are spaces for students to sign, date, and the place of where they are when signing. Please do NOT sign the space designated for a Consular Officer.

After a J-1 visa is approved, it may take up to seven days for a passport/J-1 visa to be processed and/or sent. Please be mindful of this, particularly during holidays.

It is essential to arrive on time for biometric appointments and J-1 interviews. Do not come too early or be late.

No cell phones or electronic devices are allowed inside the U.S. Embassy/Consulates. Please plan accordingly.

For specific question regarding visa week, please contact the BSMP Immigration Team at BSWBimmigration@iie.org. Please note that information regarding dates, times and locations or a specific BSMP cohort’s visa week may not necessarily be readily available at the time of contact.